Thermaltake unveils massive 2000W PSU, but it's too powerful for U.S. outlets

[zohaibahd]

In context: PC component manufacturers are gearing up for the next generation of ultra-powerful GPUs and CPUs from Nvidia, AMD, and Intel. And one area that's seeing a major boost is power supplies. The latest graphics cards and processors are growing hungrier than ever, so PSU makers are stepping up their game.

Thermaltake is leading the charge with some incredibly powerful units in terms of wattage. Among their latest offerings is the Toughpower D2000, a monstrous 2000W power supply. To put that in perspective, it's enough power to run an air conditioner.

However, there's a catch with this PSU – it won't be available in the United States. The reason is both practical and amusing: a Thermaltake spokesperson told PC Gamer that the D2000 simply draws too much power for a standard American home outlet.

So unless you have an industrial-grade power setup, you'll have to settle for Thermaltake's other high-wattage options, such as their 1650W or 1600W models – which, let's be real, are still immensely overpowered for virtually any consumer PC build out there.

The D2000, on the other hand, will be heading to Europe and select other regions where home outlets can handle its immense power requirements.

For U.S. customers, the 1650W and 1600W models will be part of Thermaltake's refreshed Toughpower RGB Plus Titanium and Toughpower TF3 Titanium lineups, which debuted at CES 2025. These PSUs are fully modular and feature a sleek, minimalist design – unless you opt for the RGB lighting, in which case you can expect vibrant, customizable lighting effects.

The connector options on these models are extensive. Both the 1650W RGB Plus Titanium and 1600W TF3 Titanium include multiple SATA power connectors, PCIe 5.1 support with 16-pin GPU power ports, and compliance with the ATX 3.1 standard.

In terms of efficiency, all models come with 80 PLUS Titanium certifications and include advanced features such as the ability to switch between single-rail and multi-rail power configurations. The RGB Plus models also come with customizable lighting effects for those who want their builds to shine.

For more compact systems, Thermaltake offers the Toughpower SFX Titanium 1200W PSU, which delivers an impressive power-to-size ratio. Measuring just 125mm x 63.5mm x 103.8mm, this compact unit supports PCIe Gen 5.1, making it an excellent choice for small-form-factor builds.

Image credit: TechPowerUp

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Thermaltake unveils massive 2000W PSU, but it's too powerful for U.S. outlets

 

[Megalomaniac]

This is obscene. No one should need more than 1000W for a personal computer - and even that's ridiculous.

What's next? Computers running off of NEMA 14-50?

 

[ScottSoapbox]

Without SLI, how do you get above 1200 Watts? Even an overclocked 5090 and Intel’s most “space heater” CPU doesn't do that.

 

[return]

I sat next to 300W GPU (2080ti OC) once. Never again!

 

[Dr Roboto]

Since this was completely missing from the article (shame):
2000W / 120V = 16.6 Amps (conservatively).

Average US residential outlet is 15 Amps, thus you would need a 20A circuit. Your average person would not know if they have 15A or 20A, so it is safer to just not sell it in the US.

 

[Achaios]

Without SLI, how do you get above 1200 Watts? Even an overclocked 5090 and Intel’s most “space heater” CPU doesn't do that.

Good point.

NVIDIA should re-introduce SLI to increase the sales of 5090's. I can guarantee there will be somebody dumb enough to run 3 5090's on SLI just b/c they can. Then even a 2KW PSU won't be enough they will likely need a 3KW PSU to do it.

 

[Rowzdowr]

Thanks for pointing that out. I feel like they were freaking out so much at the wattage, they completely skipped every other detail. To add, European homes have ~240V vs the 120V in the US, so they're only running at half the amps.

But hey, just move your dryer out of the way and plug in there. Lol

 

[MarkHughes]

Here in the UK we have 240V and 13 Amps at the sockets, So no problem, I just wouldn't want a computer that competes with my electric kettle for power draw.

 

[Dr Roboto]

The National Electrical Code (NEC) suggests that continuous loads (those operating for 3 hours or more) should not exceed 80% of the circuit's capacity.
-> For a 15A breaker, the peak power is limited to P_max = 120V*15A = 1,800W
-> For a 15A breaker, the continuous load should not exceed 15A*0.8 = 12A (leaves capacity for temporary surges and prevents tripping due to overloading)
-> P_cont = 120V*12A = 1,440W (This is the maximum continuous power you can safely draw from a 15A circuit)

High-end computer power supplies typically have efficiency ratings certified by programs like 80 PLUS. These range from 80% to 94% efficiency under load.
-> 80% efficiency: P_output = 1,440W*0.8 = 1,152W
-> 94% efficiency: P_output = 1,440W*0.94 = 1,354W

So, roughly speaking the max size power supply you "should" use in the US is approximately 1,300W for a 80 PLUS Titanium. It drops down to about 1,100W for a basic 80 PLUS. I know they sell sizes up to about 1,600W. I assume that the manufactures expect that you do not truly use the PSU at 100% load for hours on end (it is 90% vs. 80% safety factor), thus they can push more into the NEC safety margin to go above the 1,354W calculation I made (1,800W*0.9 = 1620W).

 

[Skjorn]

Good point.

NVIDIA should re-introduce SLI to increase the sales of 5090's. I can guarantee there will be somebody dumb enough to run 3 5090's on SLI just b/c they can. Then even a 2KW PSU won't be enough they will likely need a 3KW PSU to do it.

It's called mGPU now and it's up to game devs to implement it. RDR2 can utilize 2 cards. I imagine GTA 6 will be pretty good at it too.

 

[mcnabney]

Not many houses have dedicated circuits at 20A outside of the kitchen. Typical houses have entire rooms on a single circuit which means you are probably reading this on a PC that is on a circuit that is also running the monitor, the lighting, and several other little power vampires.